Pig Weekly Update
11/26/18
This week:
You should be walking your pig at least 4 times a week for 20+ minutes
Like stated in the "Veterinary Visit" newsletter, I will be at the barn at 6pm both Tuesday and Wednesday this week to help with walking
- I would highly recommend you attend both sessions to get some work done!
- You should be feeding 1/2 cup new feed and 1/2 cup of oats
- IF YOU HEAR ANY PIG COUGH, LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY!!!
- Use the whip as a guide, not as a punishment
- If you have good control of your pig, you may walk him outside! If you walk him outside, the safest place would be between the lamb and cattle barns. You are responsible for cleaning up any poop that happens on your walk
- Talk to Callie or Bekah before walking so they can help you out
- Spend time in the pen brushing your pig and beginning to bond. They are very smart animals and learn who takes care of them very quickly.
- You can start brushing oil on to the pigs skin. Brush with the hair. Revive oil (preferred) or baby oil
Barn Reminders:
Heat, Exhaust, and Fans for Pig, Lamb, and Goat Barns
Students and Families should never adjust any thermostat or controls on exhaust fans, commercial ceiling fans, or heaters. Weather is monitored daily by teachers (including holidays). The goal is to keep the temperature in the barns around 70 degrees at all times if possible, but definitely between 65-75 degrees. We also have the system adjusted to automatically pull in fresh air. The commercial ceiling fans will always be running to circulate the air. You’ll notice on warmer days they may be pushing air, and on cooler days they may be pulling air. Please also note that there is no refrigeration system, so on warmer days, we cannot cool the barns below the outside temperature.
Parking
As construction is wrapping up on the project center, a reminder that students should only park in a designated parking spot. If spots adjacent to the barn are full, students and families should park in our lot west of the portable building. Please never park in front of any gate and never park in the circular drive. All gates to the facility are considered fire lanes. In addition, our Agricultural Fleet and Teachers must have access to all gates around the facility at all times of the day and night, and is very frustrating to have to track down the owner of a vehicle when parked improperly.
Wash Rack
You need to bathe your pig with shampoo once a week. you can rinse him off (no soap) any time he gets dirty but at least once a week
Storing Items
You will also need a trashcan to store your feed in. Make sure your trashcan is in the tack area on the east side of the barn against a wall.
Being able to lock everything secure is necessary. PUT A LOCK ON EVERYTHING.
Feed should always be sealed to remain fresh and dry.
Ordering Feed
PLACE YOUR ORDER
Feeding suggestions:
- Everyone will start adding 1/2 a pound of Oats to your feed
- Everyone should be done feeding burst
- Anthony: feed 16700
- Joey: feed 14560
- Everyone Else: Feed 18007
Farmersville Grain and Hardware
Website: https://www.uwebconnect.com/pas/home
Location: 210 S Main St, Farmersville, TX 75442, USA
Phone: (972) 784-7261
Take Action Now!
BUYER'S GROUP: FRIENDS & FAMILY OF PLANO FFA
I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE ALL FAMILIES TO JOIN THIS GROUP & BECOME ACTIVE MEMBERS.
Quality Counts
Those of you that have shown in the past may remember taking a Quality Counts test one of your first years showing. Over the summer the Quality Counts certification was re-evaluated and some changes made. Therefore, all students (no matter past showing experience) must take a new certification test prior to showing at the Collin County show & Texas major livestock shows.
Your QC verification number must be provided on all show entries. Our deadline for completion will be November 15th!!! You must set up your account and document your quality counts number prior to your show entry meeting on Monday 10/29!
Purpose of Quality Counts
4-H and FFA have been involved in character education for more than 100 years. Quality Counts is a way of showcasing this character education and at the same time showing our commitment to producing a safe and wholesome livestock product for the consumer.
Verification of Quality Counts is a natural extension of this effort to demonstrate that 4-H and FFA youth have a base knowledge of the principles of quality assurance and good moral character.
https://www.texaslivestockvalidation.com/qc/qcregister.aspx
Beginning Directions
Register
-Select your FFA chapter (Plano, Plano West, or Plano East)
-Enter your DOB and Phone Number in the format provided.
**On Android devices, you will need type the hyphens and dashes.
-Click Submit Registration
-You will receive an email from dottie.goebel@ag.tamu.edu to keep for your records & activate your account.
**Do not delete this email as it contains a Return Link that you will NEED to come back to
the course at any time.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Friends & Family Meeting
7:00 pm
Clark High School- Room 100W
All students and their parents are highly encouraged to attend!
Heritage Farmstead Showmanship Clinic
Heritage Farmstead Museum/ PISD Project Center
Before the show, a guest speaker will be present to discuss how to be successful in the swine industry! Grand and Reserve Showman will be rewarded with belt buckles!!!!
This is the only show before our county show in January so this is the best practice for making the sale.
Collin County Junior Livestock Show
Myer's Park in McKinney
Pigs will move-in on January 7th with a showmanship contest that night
The market show will be on January 8th. If a student makes sale, the will need to be at Myer's Park on January 12th!
San Antonio Livestock Show
If you have a dark breed, you will be in San Antonio February 16th-18th and if you are showing a light breed, you will be in San Antonio February 19th-21st!
Students will travel with parents to and from the show
Future Communication
Also, I need everyone to join the Remind for the 2018-19 Show Season. This information and remind is important for students and parents. To join the Remind, text @pwshpigs to 81010
I know some of the students have my phone number from previous years. Please do NOT call or text me using that number. I will not answer non-emergency questions. All contact will be through Remind or email and not text message.
Only call or text me in an emergency situation!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email or message me on Remind
Thanks,
Austin Webster